Evaluation of the Nutritional, Mineral and Lysine Content of the Root of the <em>Pachira aquatic</em> Aubl. of the Atlantico (Colombia)

Abstract

The objective of the study was to characterize the root of the <em>Pachira aquatic</em> Aubl, collected from the gardens of the Universidad del Atlantico. For years, roots have represented an alternative for solving food security problems due to their nutritional value, especially for indigenous communities; however, being carriers of secondary metabolites, beneficial for health, their consumption has decreased and their potential in the agroindustry and the pharmaceutical industry wasted. <em>Pachira aquatic</em> Aubl is a plant species abundantly distributed in the Colombian Caribbean region, resistant to wide ranges of temperature, humidity and salinity, develops roots that have not studied; the infusion of that of its bark considered with hypoglycemic effects. The characteristics of humidity, ash, crude fiber, proteins, lipids, carbohydrates were determined; minerals such as calcium, magnesium, zinc and iron, as well as the amino acid Lysine; The proximal analysis performed by AOAC methods, minerals by atomic absorption spectrophotometry and Lysine analysis by ultrafast liquid chromatography. The mean, standard deviation, variance and confidence intervals obtained from the results of the analyzes. The study reported an average composition of the root of the <em>Pachira aquatic</em> Aubl of: carbohydrates (72.25%), humidity (13.53%), ashes (4.64%), proteins (4.53%), crude fiber (4.39%), fat (0.64%), calcium (188.202 mg/100 g), iron (0.211 mg/100 g), zinc (0.060 mg/100 g), magnesium (0.060 mg/100 g) and lysine 0.032 mg/100 g. The nutrients found in a greater proportion were carbohydrates and calcium, also highlighting the presence of the amino acid Lysine.